Today in history

Uploaded 09/19/2008

Sep 19 1692

80-year-old farmer Giles Cory is pressed under stones in Salem, Massachusetts because he refused to enter a plea for the charge of witchcraft. More and more weight was stacked upon Cory, until his death two days later. According to one eyewitness account: "in pressing, his tongue being pressed out of his mouth, the sheriff with his cane forced it in again."

Sep 19 1931

Adolf Hitler's 23-year-old half niece, Geli Raubal, is found dead in her uncle's Munich apartment from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest. Some allege that she and Adolf had a sexual relationship, which involved Geli pissing on him. Hitler conveniently happens to be out of town at the time of the shooting.

Sep 19 1934

Bruno Hauptmann is arrested for the kidnap-murder of the Lindbergh baby. We aren't sure if he did it, but he did have $11,000 of the ransom money. They fry him two years later.

Sep 19 1959

In a Cold War setback, Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev is annoyed to learn that he will not be permitted to visit Disneyland, due to concerns for his personal safety.

Sep 19 1961

Betty and Barney Hill are picked up near Indian Head, New Hampshire and anally probed by five beings in a flying saucer. The couple later describes the craft as being "banana-like, with pointed tips and windows."

Sep 19 1995

The New York Times and the Washington Post publish the Unabomber's rambling, 35,000-word anti-technology screed, "Industrial Society And Its Future." In exchange, he promises to halt his bombing campaign.